Originally Posted by Dutch
Originally Posted by MontanaMan
Originally Posted by flagstaff


if I had to place a finger on a map for you of the places mentioned above, it would be Pocatello or Idaho Falls.



With mo' preference to Idaho Falls....................

MM


Ive lived in both places, much prefer Poky. Shopping is lousy, but the social scene, the weather, and the sense of community is much, much better. The University adds SOME "culture" (whoohoo, we get the Gatlin brothers this Fall!). That 90 days of cloud cover in winter over IF is a bitch.. That and if you don't work at the site, and aren't mormon, your social circle tends to get very small.


Originally Posted by cumminscowboy


I just saw dutch's post, I can't disagree anymore with the comments on coaches and kids dropping friends that way. I have NEVER EVER seen that. and if it was known members of the church would come rushing in to the defense of the non member kids and parents.



Look, the redhead is a former member, my father in law is a member, my farm manager is a member. All my farm neighbors, except one, are members. My neighbor here in Poky is the Stake President. I live behind the Zion curtain. By choice, and I'm happy to live here. Mormons are, on the whole, good people (like people anywhere, really).

But you, mormons, have blind spots, and I've seen friend's kids get benched as seniors, I've seen girls dump boys when they didn't respond to pressure to attend church, and yes, I've seen the deliberate "recruitment" effort aimed at newcomers and kids. All with the best intentions, and with kindness and good will in their hearts..... but the end result is still the same. Kids not understanding why their friends don't want to hang out anymore, young adults with broken hearts, etc.




way way over played. I think kids these days going to school are looked down upon in my area if they go and wear their religion on their sleeves. Frankly I wish they would stand up for what they believe more. It seems uncool to act mormon at school these days. As for recruitment, that is over played too. I would simply say this. I believe living LDS and my beliefs help me be more free, I believe they preserve my freedom and agency. So if that is the case, if you yourself felt that way wouldn't you want others to know about it too? you would! So don't feel bad for a mormon telling you about their faith and asking you if you are interested. Think of it as hey this guy cares about me. kinda flies in the face of the comments suggesting isolation from non believers. Complain about isolation but then complain about being told of the gospel. I have to say which is it?

as for kids being benched, this is bullshivick, I simply don't believe it, like I said if it was known the Mormon community would run to the defense of the non member if the coach benched them over that. 25% of the people around here are actually practicing the LDS faith. 25% are members but don't go, The other half aren't even members. its all way overblown. The only thing bad that I see about the LDS culture is for some reason and I am being totally honest here. Mormons generally make poor elected leaders. We get mitt romney, harry reid, And the other leaders around me confuse compassion with big government.

someone mentioned Idaho falls. come to think of it, if dealing with the cold of logan was acceptable. I think idaho falls might just be the better choice. Man I love summers in idaho, The rivers up there are amazing. You have many in the area. Yellowstone is also nearby and so are many rivers in the southern montana area. The south fork of the snake is right there. I have floated it many times. saw probaly 15 bald eagles last time. There usually is a duckworth jet boat we see, with its big V8 roaring and twin american flags waving off the back. sounding and looking like pure FREEDOM